Fuel pump pushrod - Positioning??

What's the trick to get the fuel pump pushrod in the right position to reinstall a mech fuel pump?

I decided to change the fuel pump on my '85 with a 350 as it has gotten more and more difficult to start it after sitting for a week or so; the other day I changed the fuel line to the carb and it was dry, looks like fuel has been draining back to/thru the pump.
So I check Haynes, everything looks straightforward; NOT so as it take the old pump off: the pushrod sits below the bottom of the opening, I can move it up/in after advancing the crankshaft by hand, but right now it moves at an angle that makes impossible to actually pull it out. Me thinks this thing ought to pivot upwards at some point for it to point outward from the block? Of course, I can't really get to anything really well, there's heater hose, AC hose, AIR hose, smog pump, starter harness, header, motor mount, crossmember, you name it. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
So right now my game plan is to unbolt everything that's in the way, and then advance the crank slowly until I feel the darn thing actually moving; but is there another trick to it? And please don't tell me I have to pull the cam - in any case, thanks for the advice, michael

you dont have to remove the plate just use a hacksaw blade or a pen magnet for a couple bucks at autozone or whatever, grease works good if you put it on the rod before you shove it into the block, i use wheel bearing greae or whjatever i have around

turn the engine by hand so the rod is on the heel of the lobe on the camshaft so the pump will go all the way onto the block so the bolts are easiest to start, use a 7/16" deepwell 3/8" drive socket

Thanks for all the replies, I'll give it another try tonite.
Now, this is most likely a stupid question, but shouldn't I be able to pull the pushrod all the way out of the block? Am I missing something here - I just unbolted the pump itself? As always, the advice is greatly appreciated, thanks, michael

As was implied in earlier posts, there is another plate "under" the fuel pump that is still in place. That's why it won't come out.

The bolt hole that was mentioned is on the front of the block, and if you look, there will be two holes, one above the other, a few inches apart. (3/8-16) The UPPER hole is the one you put a long bolt in to hold the fuel pump pushrod.

Thanks everyone for the help, got it figured out and the pushrod is safely held in the up position. Besides everyone's advice which helped what to look for, it's amazing what one can see with the smog pump outta da way.... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif The upper bolt on my motor holds the bracket for the smog pump; didn't have a long enough bolt handy, so I stuck a thick cable tie in there, seems to hold it just fine. Again, thanks a bunch everyone, michael

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